Al Gadaa’s White Cheese and Tomato Salad

Have the option of enjoying ‘gebna bel tamatem’ with your morning coffee every day, rather than going from one café to the next ordering your go-to dip. Thanks, Al Gadaa!

Ingredients:
1 small packet Feta cheese, diced
3 tomatoes, diced
Small green pepper, chopped
Tehina
¼ cup lemon juice

¼ cup olive oil
Fresh mint, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Mix tomato, finely chopped mint, cheese and green pepper gently, then coat with the dressing made from olive oil, lemon juice and tehina. Season as required, and garnish with chopped tomato.

Pinchos’ Chicken Croquettes

For all you breaded-food lovers, treat yourself to a flavorful chicken croquettes option provided by Pinchos.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter room temperature
1 tablespoon onion chopped finely
1/2 cup flour divided
1 cup milk room temperature
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon dry cooking wine
1 pound ground cooked chicken
2 eggs beaten
1 cup bread crumbs
Vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Melt butter in a saucepan and sauté with onion on medium-low heat.
  2. Slowly, whisk in milk, 1/3 cup of flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Constantly stir until a thick sauce forms.
  3. Add the cooking wine and ground cooked chicken to the sauce. Mix it all together slowly. Let it simmer for 5 minutes on low heat.
  4. Let the filling rest at room temperature then refrigerate for 2 hours. The mixture has to harden in order to form into logs and coat evenly. If this step is skipped, it will be very hard to form logs, coat with breading, and fry. This is an important step.
  5. Remove filling from refrigerator. Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of the mixture and form a log 3 inches long and about a 3/4 inch thick. Repeat until you have all the croquettes done.
  6. In a bowl, whisk eggs and set aside. In another bowl, mix the remaining flour and bread crumbs.
  7. Dip each croquette in egg and then cover in bread crumbs. Let them rest at room temperature for 5 minutes before frying.
  8. In a large frying pan, add enough vegetable oil to cover the croquettes completely. Make sure the oil is at 190o Fry each one until golden brown, approximately 3-4 minutes.
  9. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Enjoy!

Serena Eatery’s Shrimp with Potatoes

Add a shrimp-meets-comfort-food style dish to your next family dinner or gathering. Creamy and delicious, this recipe from Serena Eatery does not disappoint.

Ingredients

120 g shrimp
40 g mushrooms, sliced
60 g fresh cream
15 g rocca
A few leaves of fresh basil
10 g butter
White pepper and salt, to taste
100 g mashed potatoes

Preparation

Fry the shrimps in a little vegetable oil, then add sliced mushroom.  When shrimp is cooked through, remove it from the pan and pat off any excess oil. Add butter, mushroom, cream, rocca, white pepper, and basil to the pan, simmer to desired consistency, add salt to taste, and then add shrimps. Serve with mashed potato.

Lebanese Diner’s Samke Harra Trabolsi

As we approach the spring, let us honor our families and ourselves with a casual twist on delightful Lebanese Tahini fish. A taste of Beirut in a sandwich!

Ingredients:

150 g fish fillet
50 g tomato salsa (tomato, coriander chili and onions)
15 g pickles
20 g chili flakes
30 g tahini sauce
50 g lettuce
1 piece of Lebanese bread

Preparation:

Grill fish. Put lettuce, tomato salsa, grilled fish (broken into pieces), tahini sauce and chili flakes onto the bread. Roll it, and then sandwich press it.

Serena Eatery in Mohandeseen

 

It all started with an exceptional woman. But then, stories worth telling usually do. To learn more, you really need to head over to newly-launched Serena Eatery and take a leisurely wander through the beautifully presented menu that chronicles Serena’s life, her travels, her thoughts, and importantly, her recipes. This is seriously good food, showcasing well-known dishes alongside the less familiar, so enjoy your own gastronomic journey!

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Signature dishes include the Fatta, in a range of tempting versions. Choose from Moza, Djej, Qraides, Batenjan, Hummus, Djebel Freek, and Lesan. Serena Eatery is also famed for its Arayes, and 12 hummus dishes.  But, based on our experience, we would consider everything a standout dish. Diners will find an Egyptian twist to some dishes, all enjoyable.

We overindulged, unashamedly. And would happily do so again. Lebanese cuisine is very much about mazza, or shareable plates, so we launched with Muhumarra, perfectly spiced with walnuts and pomegranate glaze, Shrimp Hummus, Beetroot Hummus, Tabbouleh, Manakeesh with Cheese and Spinach, Warra Einab, Soujouk bil Mustard and a Serena Salad. The presentation was stunning, authentic and showed an immense attention to detail, without being overly fussy. There was plenty of freshly baked Lebanese bread to scoop them up, even though we had used a bit to dunk into the zataar, olive oil and sesame dip offered before dinner. The Serena Salad, with a combination of quinoa, raisins, chopped apple, grilled carrot, cherry tomato, spices and creamy Greek feta cheese was unique and refreshing.

We could have easily considered that a meal, but still welcomed the excellent Shish Taouk, grilled to perfection, with creamy tomaya dip, huge fluffy fries and al dente grilled vegetables. The Qraides, or Shrimp Fatta came in a generous portion, laid on a bed of rice as a nod to local tastes. It worked well, in our opinion. We could barely tackle the spicy Batata Harra, even though they were spot on, with just the right kick of chili and aroma of coriander.

Which brought us to dessert. Should we or shouldn’t we? We did, and loved every morsel of our Halawet El Jebn, creamy mouthfuls of sweet cheese, pistachio sprinkled and drenched in rosewater syrup. The sizzling hot cheese stuffed Osmanllieh that joined it came straight from the oven, with its gooey cheese filling encased in konafa. A fitting way to end a totally enjoyable evening.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

We wouldn’t hesitate to try it all, and definitely plan to pass by to enjoy the breakfast menu. Who could resist an hour or two’s respite from the hustle and bustle of Mohandeseen in such a lovely oasis?

The beverage menu is almost as impressive as the food menu. All soft options, but there is something for all tastes, from juices, shakes and mocktails to an extensive list of hot beverages. Our lemon juice and Nutrition cocktail were both spot on. Who would have imagined a mix of celery, ginger, mixed berries, strawberry, orange and green apple could be so good… A shisha menu is also available, offering traditional flavors, as well as more modern blends.

Décor & Ambience

Serena Eatery is special. The airy atrium-like space has a glass ceiling, allowing a view of the inky star-filled sky at night, and a pleasant filter of sunlight during the day. Seating is comfortable, and offers different options and table sizes. Choose to suit your mood.  Careful planning has allowed for privacy, the tables are well-spaced and interspersed with plants and lighting features.  The mood is relaxed, with low key music playing at just the right level, and the service is smooth, friendly and unobtrusive.

Clientele mix: Urbane, chic and cosmopolitan, the clientele was mainly 25+ on our visit. Although it was only a matter of a few days since the launch, Serena Eatery was full by the time we left at 8:30 pm. The word has certainly got around.

Price range: Moderate, and great value for the quality.

Thumbs up: Drinking straws will soon be switched to paper for environmental reasons.

Worth noting: There is a well thought out kids’ menu, making this a family friendly spot.  Entertainment is planned for Ramadan, and there are plenty of flat screen televisions placed discreetly around the walls, so pop in to catch the latest match.

Takeaway and delivery: Both available, but it would be a shame not to enjoy the great atmosphere at Serena Eatery.

Contact information

Opening hours:  9 am to 2 am.
Address: 22 El Koroum St., behind Midan Mostafa Mahmoud, Mohandessin.
Tel: 0106 040 3766
Facebook / Instagram:  serenaeatery

 

Next Door in Zamalek

Owned by One Oak Co., this youthful and cozy 15 seater café-style restaurant offers fresh sushi, noodle dishes and appetizers. Its’ new menu boasts Poke bowls, sushi burritos, and new salads. Next Door has another branch in Dokki and plans to launch in Heliopolis by the end of March as well.

New on the Menu

We were excited to sample Next Door’s newest addition, the Poke Bowls. Visitors will have a choice of three bowls; the Aloha Poke Bowl, Waikiki Poke Bowl, and the Konnichiwa Poke Bowl. Served on a layer of white rice, the Aloha comes laden with tuna, pineapple, avocado, cucumber, jalapeno, and edamame beans – you can mix it all up and season with a selection of sauces: soy, teriyaki, sweet chili, spicy mayo or sriracha. The Waikiki bowl comes with salmon, mango, avocado, carrots, beets, and red cabbage. The Konnichiwa is a shrimp and crab mix with avocado, carrots, sweet corn, pomegranate, beets and almonds.  

Poke bowls are a super healthy and fresh option for lunch, however it would be a good idea to serve the sauce in a small jug for easier pouring – otherwise the bowl can be a bit dry to eat. We also sampled the Shrimp Udon Noodles, a delicious mix of veggies, noodles, shrimp bites and sauce.

As for the appetizers, we ordered the Edamame Beans as a starter, however they arrived drenched in sweet and sour sauce – although the menu states that they are sprinkled with sea salt only. The Sushi Burrito was packed with salmon, avocado, mango, cucumber, cabbage and sesame seeds wrapped with rice and seaweed – it’s a good starter for those who may be skipping sushi as a main course and still want a bit of sushi flavor.

A sushi platter full of Next Door’s top-selling items arrived next: Lemon, Mango, Cocktail, Salmon, Ura Caviar, Crispy, Philadelphia rolls and an order of salmon sashimi. The top contenders from the bunch were definitely the lemon roll and the Philadelphia – generous portions of cream cheese and the lemon roll.

Beverage options include soft drinks and fresh juices.

Décor & Ambience

Hip and cozy, Next Door is a small but well-lit and comfortable for small groups of friends. The service is friendly, and it’s a perfect “pop in and out” for lunch or dinner kind of spot.

Clientele mix: Young people dominate this space.

Price range: Affordable for seafood!

Contact information

Hours: 12 pm – 12.30 am

Address:  6 El-Gezira El-Wosta St., Zamalek

Phone Number: 0112 277 7311

Facebook / Instagram: @Nextdooreg

 

 

Carol Tapas Bar Downtown

You could be forgiven for cruising past the low key entrance to Carol, sandwiched neatly between the bright neon of an adjacent business and the more ostentatious grandeur of the famed Automobile Club. But to miss it would be doing yourself a terrible disservice. This has to be the quintessential downtown Cairo watering hole.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

You need to know first up, that although Carol offers a good range of small, tasty plates with Egyptian and international appetite pleasers; that is not the main draw.  It is though, important to have interesting nibbles while downing your beverage of choice, so expect to find Hawawshi, Warra Einab, Bessara and Beef Liver Alexandrian Style amongst the menu options.

It made sense to try a diverse range of items, so we ordered up and soon had a table loaded with Baladi Salad, Arugula Salad, Spicy Tomato Salad, Hawawshi, Cheese and Meat Sambousek, Warra Einab, Fried Chicken Wings, and the recommended Beef Liver. The portions are perfect for sharing, but not too filling, and authentic to the core. The Arugula Salad came with slivers of sharp roumi cheese and slices of fresh mushroom, the Tomato Salad had a zingy herb-laden dressing, and the Sambousek arrived sizzling hot and beautifully light. Just right to accompany the local brew.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

We would probably head for Spicy Meatballs in Rosemary Sauce, Bessara and Calamari on our next foray.

Beverage options at Carol include a range of cocktails, mocktails, local beer, wine and spirits, along with soft options like juices, soft drinks, tea and coffee.

Décor & Ambience

Enter Carol, close the door gently behind you, and immerse yourself in a Cairo that you may have thought long gone. Carol has been a fixture on the Cairo map since the sixties, and its revived version still retains much of its original appeal. Think vintage pieces, original chandeliers, occasionally mismatched wooden chairs, beautifully preserved carved tables, a color palette that Toulouse Lautrec would have felt at home in, and a charmingly relaxed vibe. Seating in the long narrow space is arranged with standard tables of different sizes, high tables with stools, and a long bar lined with high stools. The music, although not intrusive, flowed easily from guitar, to Oriental, to jazz and other carefully curated selections. Subtle, but perfectly suited to the setting.

Clientele mix:  If ever there was a spot to stumble across a full spectrum of Cairenes, this must be it. From the old guard, to ‘suited and booted’ bankers and the like, and earnest young students and arty intellectuals, along with local downtown residents, Carol makes everyone feel at home. There is also a strong showing from young people escaping the more sterile delights of the gated communities on the outer reaches of the city. By the time we arrived at 6 pm the tables had started to fill, and when we wandered out at around 8 pm, every table was packed.

Price range:  Still in the 1960’s, so make the most of it.

Worth noting: Opening hours may be extended in the future on weekends. Carol is closed during Ramadan however.

Contact information


Opening hours:  5 pm to 4 am.
Address: 12 Kasr El Nil St. Downtown.
Tel: 0102 911 1105
Instagram: carolbarcairo

 

 

 

All You Need to Know About Kemetic Yoga


Kemetic Yoga, just like all else, exists in the roots of Egypt. This healing and regenerative yoga system provides tons of benefits to your body, mind, and soul. Here we explain all the ins and outs of Kemetic Yoga.

From Ancient Egypt to Today

Reaching back into the very roots of Egyptian culture, Kemetic Yoga is now being revived at Lotus Center in Sheikh Zayed, with regular classes being conducted by Alisha. Cairo West Magazine reached out to learn more about the benefits, and how this form of yoga differs from the many other disciplines.

The Roots of Kemetic Yoga

The practice of Yoga postures as evidenced in the records and recorded on the walls of the temples of ancient Kemet (Egypt). The guiding philosophy of Kemet is that everything in the universe emerges out of an all pervasive order called Ma’at.  The modern incarnation of Kemetic Yoga was developed by Dr. Asar Hapi and Yirser Ra Hotep in Chicago in the mid-1970s, and continued by Yirser Ra Hotep up to the present time. Kemetic Yoga is trademarked and has a particular and specific definition.

Why Kemetic Yoga?

The purpose of Kemetic Yoga is not primarily for the body but to benefit the development of the mind. Kemetic Yoga movements and postures place primary emphasis on the control of the breath in order to move and circulate the life force. It is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness, if you are living and breathing, it is for you!

What Kemetic Yoga does:

Kemetic Yoga enhances the “energy body”. In the same way that we have a physical body that has a specific anatomy and physiology and that operates in a specific manner; we also have a spiritual or energetic body that has a specific anatomy and physiology and operates on the circulation of life force. This life force is something we are born with and is replenished from a substance in the air that the Indians call Prana, and the sages of ancient Kemet (Egypt) called Ankh. This substance is the force called vital in Latin and that God breathed into the clay after forming it into the shape of a human being. The Chinese call this substance, Chi. In Japan it is called, Ki.

The physical body has a corresponding subtle body or bioenergetic body (non-physical, invisible and energy based). The major energy structures in the physical body i.e., the nerve plexus and endocrine glands correspond to the major energy structures in the bio-energetic body, commonly called the Chakras in India or Karkar (energy circles) in the Kemetic language.

The Benefits of Kemetic Yoga:

You get the benefits of Restorative Yoga, the energizing of Kundalini Yoga, the strengthening, flexibility and health building of Ashtanga, the alignment of Iyengar Yoga and the internal psychic abilities of deep meditation. These techniques engender mind/body integration while stimulating the flow of internal energy that is needed to activate the production of mood altering and consciousness raising hormones, bio-chemicals and neurotransmitters in the brain.

YogaSkills Method Is the way of practicing Kemetic Yoga postures or any type of Hatha Yoga. It is also a guiding principle of our system of Yoga that states, “The purpose of Yoga practice is the development skills that can be used and applied to the individual’s development in every aspect of life.” YogaSkills Method or YSM should result in Self Realization followed by Self Actualization. This means understanding your true nature as an infinite being, then actually manifesting your life’s purpose and becoming who and what you came to this plane of existence to become.

How Kemetic Yoga Differs:

Kemetic Yoga’s unique system includes Pose of Immortality, Peaceful Warrior Pose, Goddess Pose, Ma’at Ka, Teken Sequence, and more. In the same way that Yoga postures are supposed to be done in a manner that is in harmony with the physical anatomy and physiology of the body, YSM demands that they also be performed in such a manner as to be in harmony with the exact way that energy moves and operates in the bio-energetic body.

Therefore, YogaSkills Method recognizes that each inhalation of the breath should cause energy to rise up the energy channel that corresponds to the spine and connects to the energy center (chakra/karkar) at the crown of the head. Each exhalation should send energy through the energy channels that corresponds to the arms and legs into the hands and feet. In this manner the entire being is inundated (flooded) with life force, in the same way that the land of Kemet (Egypt) was inundated annually with the floodwaters of the Nile river (Hapi),that deposited fertile soil from the deepest heart of Africa.

Under YSM, we utilize a technique called Rule of Four Breathing and Geometric progression. This means that 4 steps characterize each breath: inhale, pause, exhale, and pause. Each pose is divided into steps that correspond with this breathing pattern. By performing our Yoga postures in this manner, we are developing specific mental skills that should transfer into our everyday life, and provide us with the ability to manifest what we seek to accomplish in life. Some of the mental skills we develop are concentration, focus, patience, self-love, critical thinking, discrimination, independence, withdrawal, etc. We also develop our psychic abilities such as pre-cognition, telepathy and clairvoyance during our practice.

Contact info:
Address: 75 Abdel Moneim Riad in front of Ramo buildings – Motamayez District 6th of October
Tel: 0128 854 7334
Facebook: Lotus6october

 

Fayoum’s Lazib Inn Resort & Spa

Grab your loved one, hop in your getaway car and head to Fayoum’s hotspot. The picture-perfect Lazib Inn Resort & Spa is ready to take your mind off of your weekday stresses.

Isn’t it time for a little self-indulgence with an escape to the countryside? There must be a host of reasons to reward yourself; those extra-long working hours you have been putting in, the stress of city life, the first signs of spring.  And, lest we forget, Mother’s Day! A short hop from Cairo, nestled on the banks of Fayoum’s Lake Qarun in picturesque Tunis Village, one of our favorite getaway spots, Lazib Inn Resort & Spa, has just expanded with the addition of 6 new suites. Still bijou, and blissfully private, this boutique hotel now offers 14 beautifully appointed suites. Expect all the amenities of luxury hotel living, from huge flat screen TVs to wood burning fireplaces. The spacious suites also boast either a balcony or a terrace to relax on, and are tastefully decorated to reflect the colors and ambience of the surroundings.

You shouldn’t get so comfortable that you forget to leave your suite, because Fayoum in spring is picture postcard pretty. With activities galore right on your doorstep, from horse-riding, bird-watching and felucca trips, to desert sightseeing with a host of Ancient Egyptian, Greco-Roman and Islamic archaeological sites and fossil remains to enjoy, there is no reason to become too lazy. Unless of course, you find the thought of lounging beside the two glorious infinity swimming pools with their mesmerizing views just too irresistible.

The refreshing air perks up appetites to no end, and guests can find just the right nibbles when the mood hits. The Blue Donkey Restaurant offers specialties of the area alongside international cuisine, with dishes using abundant high quality, locally sourced produce. Regulars rave about the Shrimp Konafa, the Stuffed Fayoumi Pigeon and the Grilled Duck Breast, just some of the dishes to put on your ‘must try’ list. There is a full bar, with international and local wines and spirits, in addition to softer options. The Harley Davidson Bar is a great place to kick back and relax, chat and enjoy a game of darts as a wind-up to a perfect day, or if your muscles are feeling the impact of all that sightseeing, slip away to the relaxation of the full-service spa, with its Turkish hammam, private gym, sauna and extensive range of massages. Unwind totally in the outdoor Jacuzzi before heading back to your personal haven and slipping between 800-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets for the sweetest dreams ever.

Contact info:

Address: Tunis Village, Youssef El Seddik, El Fayoum

Tel: 084 2820 000

https://www.facebook.com/lazib.inn/

https://www.instagram.com/lazibinn/

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